So a week ago, I got an e-mail saying that I should post my Secret Pal 9 questionaire so that my soon-to-be-assigned pal could get to know me. So now I'm finally getting around to it- sorry pal!... though I haven't gotten an e-mail about my pal yet, so I don't think he/she knows who I am yet. So I'm still okay. But here's more info about me than most of you need to know!!
1. What is/are your favorite yarns to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? Well, duh, I like sock yarn! But to be more specific, I like handpainted or solid sock yarn. I like to knit the self-patterning yarns for others, but I don't like to wear them myself so much. I think I'm really getting into nearly solid colors, or sock yarn with subtle color differences, as my sock knitting is going toward the lacey end, and I think that nearly solids look great with lace, or more intricate, patterns. I don't like 100% synthetic fiber. But I knit with 25% synthetic as much as I do 100% merino. And I'm thinking about starting to knit a bit more lace, so I find myself looking at wool/silk or wool/cashmere combos for lace shawls.....
2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? Next to my couch is my knitting shelf (one shelf on a bookcase) that I keep things I use often. Joe calls it my nest. Whatever. Books, magazines, patterns, yarn, current project, a drink of some sort, and a quart mason jar that holds scissors, a crochet hook, and needles. I keep the needles in their packaging, and the mason jar keeps everything upright and out of the way. Other than that, I have an udly fake leather case that holds my interchangable circs. I don't use that much. I guess I should really think about better storage for my needles.
3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? My grandma Eloise taught me to knit when I was 7 or 8. Since I'm 28 now, I guess I've been knitting for about 20 years! But there was a long span of time, until about 4 years ago, that I rarely knit and did cross stitch sometimes. I am, by no means, an advanced knitter. I know a lot about sock yarn and sock knitting, but I think I'm an intermediate knitter. I don't knit sweaters b/c I'm a big girl and my weight fluctuates. I would be sad if I knit myself a sweater and I gained or lost weight and it didn't fit. How's that for honesty. I'm not the most patient person, so socks, scarves, baby clothes and baby blankets are good for me. Though, like I said before, I can hear lace calling me and I might have to start a shawl. Like this one. Oh my...
4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? Nope.
5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products, etc.) I don't take baths, only showers. I really like candles. I like herbal type scents, but not lavender or chamomile. I like basil, rosemary, lemon verbena.... I don't like heavy scents or overly perfumed products. I do like baking scents like vanilla cupcake, cookies, and things like that. A lot. I don't like coffee scented, even though I love a good cup of coffee.
6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? Who doesn't have a sweet tooth? If there is someone, give me a shout out, b/c I don't believe it! Like everyone else, I like chocolate. I don't like black licorice. I would love to try something that is specific to where my pal lives. Something I can't get anywhere.
7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin? My friend, Anne, tried to teach me to spin, but I was easily discouraged. I cross stitch a bit- I recently finished a piece that looks like a Frank Lloyd Wright stained glass window, and I've been working on a celtic cross for quite some time. It hasn't gotten any attention for about 8 months though! I love to cook too. I love recipe books and Alton Brown.
8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) I love music. I listen to it in my car, on my iPod, and on the computer. All the time, really. My favorite band is Radiohead. I also like Tenacious D, Keane, Miles Davis, Beethoven, the Jets, Arctic Monkeys, Cake, Coldplay, Beck, The Cure, Jill Scott, India Arie, Lauryn Hill (and the Fugees), Harry Connick Jr. I listen to lots of jazz and classical too. Probably that more than anything right now. I listen to Quincy Jones Big Band Bossa Nova almost everyday. My favorite piece of music is Beethoven's 7th symphony, second movement.
9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand? My favorites are blue and green. I'm not a fan of bright and garish colors. I like interesting color combos, as long as they aren't fluorescent.
10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? It's me and my husband Joe. No kids, no pets. Just me and Joe. We like each other quite a lot, so we don't have plans to ad anything/anyone to the house anytime soon!
11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? I do wear scarves, hats and mittens. I like them to coordinate. I don't think I have ever worn a poncho. Wait, I was in an ice skating show when I was 10 and I think I wore one as part of a costume. I'm affraid wearing one now would make me look like a tent.
12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? Socks. I also like knitting baby items and am thinking of doing more lace. I just have to actually DO it.
13. What are you knitting right now? Right now, I'm working on the 9th square of 16 for a log cabin blanket. I'm almost done with a pair of socks for my father in law. Nobody better tell him!!! You know who I'm talking to!
14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? Of course!
15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? All my socks I knit on Crystal Palace bamboo needles. Never anything else. Yet. I use metal circs for larger projects.
16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? Yes. Both.
17. How old is your oldest UFO? Oh, about a year. I started a Debbie Bliss baby kimono quite a while ago and got sick of it. I'll get back to it eventually, maybe. I'm not too concerned.
18. What is your favorite holiday? Thanksgiving or Christmas. Mostly b/c of the food. I mean, I like my family too, but I really like the food.
19. Is there anything that you collect? I collect Jadite, the green milkglass from the 50's. I *heart* it. I also like pottery, b/c Joe's a potter. You would think I would have a large yarn stash, but I don't! I think b/c I get to buy so much yarn, and then sell it, I don't keep my own personal stash. If I see something come from one of my vendors that I really like, I might make sure I keep one, but usually I don't. I'm thinking of adding two skeins of the Shaefer Anne Elena Piscopia to my stash. I think it would make a lovely shawl for fall. And I do have some on Teyani's Sock Hop yarn waiting for me.
20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? I only subscribe to Interweave Knits and Knitnet right now. But I definitely like magazines. I usually just buy them at Borders or something. Oh, but I do have a subscription to Eating Well... if you haven't read it and you like cooking/eating, it's great!
21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? I'm always up for trying new things, but I can't think of anything in particular right now.
22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? My feet are a twinge under 10 inches long. About 9.75 inches. Yeah, I'm a sock knitter.
23. When is your birthday? (mm/dd) January 8
ACK! THAT WAS LONG! I need a nap.